I’m considering buying a jig that will enable me (plus router) to do mortice (probably floating) and tenons, dovetails, box joints et al. I think I’ve narrowed it down to the above and would like to hear from those of you who can make a comparison and/or an alternative reccomendation. TIA
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Replies
I have the Leigh FMT and the D4. Both jigs are great (the FMT is the best) but they cannot do as many joints as the woodrat (which I do not have). Setup for the Leigh FMT is (almost) idiot proof and the D4 is the best DT machine out there. With that said, I would suggest learning to cut DT's by hand (way cheaper and a wonderful skill to have) and look at getting the FMT or the Woodrat.
There is only one truely universal jig, but fortunately most folk are delivered equipped with left and right handed varients. The router is extra.
I like that
non trad stu,
Both the Wood Rat and Leigh jig are very good devices. The Wood Rat is more versatile (it does much more than tenon pieces and mortices) but the Leigh is a masterpiece of design, fit and finish for the limited tasks that it does. The Wood Rat is interesting. The Leigh is fascinating in its simplicity and quality of workmanship.
I don't have either, but I have seen them demonstrated and I had a chance to work with the Leigh for about a day.
However neither is inexpensive. The Wood Rat is about US $600 and the Leigh is about US $1000.
I have used a tenon jig that I made from plans in Taunton's, "Ingenious Jigs & Shop Accessories." It's the 1999 printing, I believe a newer version may have a different name. It's the article on pp 69-75, "Router Fixture Takes On Angled Tenons." It makes straight and compound angled tenons (which neither the Leigh nor Wood Rat can do), square ended or rounded. It is as accurate a device as I have ever used. Once one tenon piece has been set up, all similar tenons can be cut just by locking the piece in the jig and moving the router.
I transfer the tenon measurements to the mortise piece with a marking knife and route the mortises on a router table using the fence and stop blocks. Once a mortise has been set up, all similr pieces can be routed just by lowering the work over the bit and moving it between the stop blocks. The pieces mate perfectly.
If you are capable of building mortise and tenon furniture, you ought to give building the jig a try. Materials cost less than $50.
Rich
You are incorrect. ."... It makes straight and compound angled tenons (which neither the Leigh nor Wood Rat can do), square ended or rounded."
The Leigh FMT can easily do compound (2) angles. It is one of the major selling points.
Here is my suggestion - download the manuals or go somewhere and read them. It will give you the detail you are looking for. Either way, you cannot go wrong!
"The Leigh FMT can easily do compound (2) angles. It is one of the major selling points." Right. My bad. Still, the Shop-made jig I suggested is as accurate and versatile as the $1000 version. And my thinly-veiled suggestion was that if one lacked the ability to make the jig, one might rethink spending $1000 on a piece of equipment to make mortise and tenon joints for projects as demanding or more than the $50 jig. Rich
Re your suggestion of a home made jig, I have just re-read issue 114 and Mr Koizumi's excellent article on his router fixture for straight and angled tenons. I entirely agree with your sentiments, even if I were wealthy enough to buy every gadget going, I still get more satisfaction from trying to coming up with my own solution to any problem.
This would not always be the case if I was trying to make a living from woodworking.
mufti, Right. Working for a living it is probably a much better economic move to buy a well-engineered piece of equipment and spend the time you would on making a home-brew device, actually getting work out the door. But even pros have down time, or can't afford a new piece of equipment. That's the time to resort to quality jigs and other self-made devices. Rich
I found the article Router Fixture Takes On Angled Tenons in a library book titled Shop Accessories You Can Build. The article has pictures but no dimensions or placement measurments and I was wondering if the article in FWW #114 was the same. I would like build this jig but don't feel comfortable starting the project without more information.
Yes, it's the same article. There are no dimensions given. They are not critical. The relative sizes of parts of the jig are readily apparent by reltion to the router and the author in the pictures. Rich
Thanks
In spirit I agree with you. But frequently I'm faced with the hobson's choice of buying a gadget or fatally delaying a project.
I agree that affordablity and profitability are factors. But if you are going to introduce common sense I consider that unfair.
Please realise you are addressing the owner of a little rat, a leigh jig, a router crafter and numerous routers, all bought whilst his carer had her back turned. Now trying to go cold turkey but it is hard at this time of the year, even though I am a vegetatian, Rich!
Edited 11/14/2006 11:43 am ET by mufti
Take heart. Soon that cold turkey will be nice and hot with similarly heated gravy, mashed pototoes, yams and cold cranberry sauce. Rich
For loose tenon joinery consider the Grizzly G0540 with an end mill. Cheaper than both these jigs and a snap to set up and use.. Art
I just saw the Woodrat demonstrated by its inventor, and it's unbelievably complicated and intimidating. Of course he knows how to use it, but understanding it for use in a home shop is a whole other dimension. It definitely can turn out great joints, but it seems like you'd have to work with it regularly to remember setup and operation, otherwise it's just another tool that collects dust. I'd buy the Leigh system because it's so smooth and accurate, and the Leigh manuals are the best in woodworking realms.
I have the Woodrat and my good buddy has the Leigh. Both are very, very good machines and both have their advantages.
The Leigh is great for dovetails, but it too has its limitations even in its specialised function (very fine spacing being the main limitation, but even that is quite minor in the scheme of things). I have found that it too has its learning curve and requires a number of test cuts to tune in the best fit.
In my experience, the Woodrat is not at all complicated to set up and use and my very first attempts at box, dovetail and sliding dovetail joints demonstrated its accuracy and relative ease of use. Yes, there is a learning curve, but that is true of any tool and, yes, the Woodrat has a longer curve than some because of its extensive capabilities.
Buy either the Leigh or the Woodrat and you wont be disappointed by their quality. Buy the Woodrat and you have a truly capable tool for most of your joinery needs.
Regards,
AussiePete
Retirement is a life long opportunity.
I've used both of the jigs, and both do an excellent job. They are both complicated and intimidating in their own way. I was able to master the Leigh for dovetails and the FMT for tenons quicker than the Wood Rat. In fact, every time I use the Wood Rat I have to go back to the instruction sheet before I start. I just don't seem to be able to retain the process in my head.
A fellow cabinet maker I work with from time to time has just the opposite view. He sold the Leigh dovetail jig he had and sold the FMT as well. He is most comfortable with the Wood Rat, he can set it up very quickly and makes a minimum of trial cuts. So, each to his own, but both are good and will give you outstanding results.
Thank you matey, but I have always believed that we cobblers together of gadgets are legion, but shy. Sometimes also a bit mad, my latest is to assist the accurate raising and lowering of the arm on my small R.A.Saw with a bungee attached overhead relieving the load on the rack by which height is adjusted. It works though.
Lets spread the word! David.
I wish I could claim to be so inspired, much of my productive time is spent in helping to look after the ponies my daughter has but can not afford (but she does not see that), repairing neighbours bits and pieces, fixing things I ought to have done years ago, and trying but failing to get to grips with reality. I fully intend to build top-notch items in my middle years, just as soon as I finish childhood.
Life is good and it is greatly enhanced by the camaraderie of knots.
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